The Power of Storytelling: Sonny Von Cleavland on Trauma, Healing, and Hope

In this compelling episode of the Straight Jacket Podcast, hosts Keta Loren and Jeff welcome author, speaker, and content creator Sonny von Cleveland to discuss his extraordinary journey of resilience and recovery from severe childhood trauma. Sonny candidly reflects on his harrowing past, detailing his experiences with severe abuse, human trafficking, and an early entry into the criminal justice system that led to an 18-year prison sentence. He describes the profound internal shift he experi...

Nicki opens up about reaching her rock bottom through severe alcoholism and domestic struggles, reflecting on how her actions impacted her relationship with her children. Through shelter support, day treatment programs, and continuous therapy, she was able to confront her addictions, accept accountability, and overcome immense family trauma. Nicki shares how leaning on her faith, attending 12-step meetings, and building a strong support network transformed her identity and sustained her sobr...

In this episode of the Straitjacket podcast, hosted by Keta alongside Jeff from Mental Health Resource, guest Julie shares her raw and inspiring journey through addiction, trauma, and redemption. From facing early childhood struggles and surviving sexual trauma to enduring years of severe substance abuse and homelessness on the streets of Southern California, Julie opens up about the pivotal moments that nearly cost her life. Her powerful testimony highlights the incredible resilience of the ...

In this powerful episode of the StraitJacket Podcast, hosted by Keta Loren and presented by Mental Health Resource, we introduce a very special guest, Nikki. For the first time ever, Nikki opens up and shares the deeply raw, unfiltered journey of her life. Growing up in a chaotic environment split between a hard-working but distant mother, a father heavily involved in gang culture and addiction, and strict but loving grandparents, Nikki’s definition of love and security was shaped by early tr...

In this episode of the Straight Jacket podcast, hosts Jeff and Keta dive into a profound discussion on the value of lived experience over theoretical knowledge, contrasting observation with active immersion in life. Drawing from an introductory story about information versus immersion, they explore how this binary manifests in the mindset of individuals facing addiction. The conversation highlights a fundamental defiance and curiosity that drives some people to seek personal, sometimes painfu...